Additional economic activities must be developed in Eastern Kasai for the province to be lifted out of a quasi self-imposed misery. A rent-seeking economy based on diamond revenue is a curse, not a blessing, to the province. Even if MIBA were managed properly and all “private” diamond dealers were brought under state control, the province would still not be in a position to ensure its economic survival. The limited diamond reserves, the population growth and the volatility of the market price reduce profitability and make it structurally impossible for the diamond sector alone to lift the whole province out of poverty.

Why not develop the agriculture sector? The province can grow, even export wheat. Why not invest in food-processing industry or in light industry in general?
There are enough rich Kasaians who should set an example by investing their diamond revenues in their province instead of bragging in Kinshasa or buying mansions abroad.

Additional economic activities must be developed in Eastern Kasai for the province to be lifted out of a quasi self-imposed misery. A rent-seeking economy based on diamond revenue is a curse, not a blessing, to the province. Even if MIBA were managed properly and all “private” diamond dealers were brought under state control, the province would still not be in a position to ensure its economic survival. The limited diamond reserves, the population growth and the volatility of the market price reduce profitability and make it structurally impossible for the diamond sector alone to lift the whole province out of poverty.

I have repeated that so many times.

The cure for Congo is not minerals. Agriculture is the cure. Look at Indonesia, Viet-Nam, Maleysia ect... they export rice and just palm Oil all over the world and we export minerals. but we are poorer than them.

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Why not develop the agriculture sector? The province can grow, even export wheat. Why not invest in food-processing industry or in light industry in general?
There are enough rich Kasaians who should set an example by investing their diamond revenues in their province instead of bragging in Kinshasa or buying mansions abroad.

I have brought up this agriculture investment countless times in my life. But sadly most Congolese view Agriculture as the poor man's job (Just like the rest of South of Sahara Africa).

No country can become wealthy and industrial without Agriculture. Now days the agriculture industry is a massive world business. Look at Brazil, South Africa, US, they make more money from Agriculture than any other industry.

There is no industry that employs more people indirectly than Agriculture in developed and developing countries.

Diamond will always end in the hands of the few in the CG (Central government) and the provincial officials. People will ever barely see anything.

If they use the supposed 10 million dollars , they could use 3 million dollars to buy tractors, then use the 7 million dollars farm.

But to have a successful agriculture, you need infrastructures in place. How would you evacuate the products for exports? even just from the rural to the city?

Every province can invest in agriculture with only 200,000 Hectares each for commercial agriculture. Financed by the provincial governments. Corn wheat Soy Bean,

The cure for Congo is not minerals. Agriculture is the cure. Look at Indonesia, Viet-Nam, Maleysia ect... they export rice and just palm Oil all over the world and we export minerals. but we are poorer than them.

I have brought up this agriculture investment countless times in my life. But sadly most Congolese view Agriculture as the poor man's job (Just like the rest of South of Sahara Africa).

No country can become wealthy and industrial without Agriculture. Now days the agriculture industry is a massive world business. Look at Brazil, South Africa, US, they make more money from Agriculture than any other industry.

There is no industry that employs more people indirectly than Agriculture in developed and developing countries.

Diamond will always end in the hands of the few in the CG (Central government) and the provincial officials. People will ever barely see anything.

If they use the supposed 10 million dollars , they could use 3 million dollars to buy tractors, then use the 7 million dollars farm.

But to have a successful agriculture, you need infrastructures in place. How would you evacuate the products for exports? even just from the rural to the city?

Every province can invest in agriculture with only 200,000 Hectares each for commercial agriculture. Financed by the provincial governments. Corn wheat Soy Bean,

How can you expand or develop others industries without dependable source of energy ?

Mulopwe

Thats why mentioned INFRASTRUCTURES (Energy , Roads, Rail). I know i should have been specific.

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We need infrastructures to make that happen, There are no excuses why we can't do it.

But electricity alone is the driver of the modern industrial developed world we have today.

However. Just for agriculture output or mass productions alone, one doesn't need electricity. Uganda an agroculture is Surplus country though the lectricity is only available to 15% only. Malawi is a Corn surplus country as well.

There are no excuses why this country can't be a surplus in this age. i know we were once.

Of course you need electricity to transform or process certain foods productions.

You can't have a successful agriculture if there is not Roads.

If in my province i have 10 million people and then you give me a choice to produce 30 million Carats of Diamond/year or 15 million Tonnes of corn or beans or rice/year.

I will choose 15 million tonnes of corn or beans or rice. I wouldn't even need electricity to produce this. and I will employ waaaaaay more people because of this industry that i can with Diamond and have a more balanced distribution of wealth.

Of course you need electricity to transform or process certain foods productions.

You can't have a successful agriculture if there is not Roads.

If in my province i have 10 million people and then you give me a choice to produce 30 million Carats of Diamond/year or 15 million Tonnes of corn or beans or rice/year.

I will choose 15 million tonnes of corn or beans or rice. I wouldn't even need electricity to produce this. and I will employ waaaaaay more people because of this industry that i can with Diamond and have a more balanced distribution of wealth.

For your information, Grand kasai produce enough corn and cassava (Self-sufficient). My point is that without electricity, it will be difficult to transform these product to add value and increase producers income.

For your information, Grand kasai produce enough corn and cassava (Self-sufficient). My point is that without electricity, it will be difficult to transform these product to add value and increase producers income.

Mulopwe

I know they self sufficient and know the production can easily be raised. Thats why i said that Roads must be built. But the diamonds have ended in few people's pockets , we all know that. Both Kasais gets almost nothing from the production.

The majority of people never profited from the production.

However: I'm not a big fan of mineral run economy . I prefer agriculture because it benefits most people. Unlike minerals that end up in Central Government Dinosaurs' mouths.